Vulva Cancer

I was just diagnosed with vulva cancer. I have an appointment with a specialist on June 12. Since this is a very rare cancer I can't seem to find much on it. Any info anyone has would be helpful. Thanks!

Hi, I am just wondering how you were diagnosed. I am having problems, and I am thinking something is wrong. I have 2 ulcers in the area that aren't healing, for over a month now, and also a lump under the skin. Does that sound similar to your dx. I hope everything is going alright with you.

Dear Missyme,
I was having unusual bleeding inbetween my periods and during an gyn exam they found the lesions on my vulva. The doctor took a biopsy in his office (its painless, they use an injection) and the biopsy came back as squamous cell carinoma. I am doing better now, I went to the specialist and they are going to do surgery, we believe we caught it early enough. I cannot stress to you how important it is to get what you have checked out and immediatly. This is a very rare cancer, the numbers quoted are 3850 cases a year and 850 deaths. It is often misdiagnosed as things like yeast infections and so on...please get it looked at by a doctor who knows.

Thanks so much for your speedy reply. I too am having bleeding between, but only slight, thinking I may be starting my period, then it stops. I will be getting to my doctors as soon as I can get in. I am glad to hear that you are doing well.

Missyme,
Good thinking about getting in asap. Good luck and remember, it seems you caught it early also so the prognosis should be good. Make sure they check you lymph glands in you pelvic region and they check your cervix, this spreads to those areas easily. I'll stay in touch as I go through this and you do too. I, unfortunatly, also have something going on in my breasts so my treatment may be a little different than yours but we can still compare notes. It can still be other things with you so don't get worried, just get it checked out. Again, Good luck!

I was diagnosed two years ago with vulva cancer. I had seen my family doctor for almost 18 months, complaining of itching, burning and painful lesions and he always diagnosed me as having a yeast infection. I finally insisted on seeing a specialist and was diagnosed within a week. I had surgery and radiation. It was a pretty painful process but I have been doing great. I have just recently been having symptoms once again and will be undergoing more tests in the next few weeks. I have been back to work for over a year. Keep a really positive attitude, things will get better.

Can anyone who has gone through a similar situation suggest any creams, ointments or suggestions to make sexual relations easier and more enjoyable after the surgery and radiaton?

Penny H, there was a foundation in San Francisco who had info on vulva cancer it has been several years since I have looked them up but it is worth a try I am not a computer person but was compelled to look up this cancer today has I am having some problems and am applying for ssi it has been 17 years since I have had my surgery my nodes were clean so no chemo or rad. I was only 28 and pregnant with my 2nd child I had a wonderful doc I was the first person that he performed a new less radical vulvectomy on I was so thankful I did not need to have reconstruct surgery I did develop lymphadema from the removal of my groin nodes I really think that is my biggest complaint my biggest message to you is to stay upbeat and check the stats when you see deaths from this cancer it is because this is a cancer that is associated with the elderly and they pass away from other ailment I don’t know how old you are I am just going on the stats when I had it. I always call the cancer it. Just to let you know keep your head up and stand up for your self don’t let your doc or is associates talk you into something you do not want to do. I will be praying for you. cali1

Cali1,
Thank you, I needed to hear that and really right now. I had my surgery, they just did a partial vulvectomy and I am having trouble healing, for some reason my stitches keep splitting. So far I haven't had to have any other treatments, the doctor thinks she got it all but I go in next Tues. to get the results of the biopsy from what they removed and to see if it (I call cancer it too) turned invasive. We will see then what is next on the schedule. I am fairly ;_0 young, I'm 44, so I realized most of the deaths related were from older people, though thank goodness, this is getting diagnosed earlier and sooner in younger people. Thank you for you message and I'll keep you in my prayers to that it doesn't reaccurre with you.

I had surgery 6 years ago and still have infections from radiation where I have a high fever. Do you have this? My gynecologist oncologist says it was caused from radiation and my radiation oncologist says it was caused by the lymph nodes being removed.